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 | | By Kelly Garrity |
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IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN — With Donald Trump heading back to the White House in January, state governments are set to become the new frontier for clean energy and climate advocates looking to make gains in the next few years.
The president-elect has pledged to roll back many of the Biden-era initiatives aimed at curtailing carbon emissions and facilitating a transition to clean energy. On Saturday, he tapped oil industry executive Chris Wright, who has disputed the role of climate change in causing extreme weather, to lead the Energy Department. But Sen. Ed Markey emphasized yesterday that states
could still lead on the issue, if the feds take a back seat. “The climate crisis was not caused by one president, and the climate crisis will not be solved by one president,” he said at a press conference last night after returning from COP, the annual United Nations climate conference. “Notwithstanding anything that Donald Trump says,
much of the United States is still in. California is the fifth-largest economy in the world. New York, New Jersey, New England combined would be the fifth largest economy in the world. We're in – we're all in for this revolution,” said Markey, one of the most aggressive advocates for action on climate change in the Senate and the co-author of the Green New Deal. The debate over energy and climate is already ramping up
at the state level here. Gov. Maura Healey is joining a cohort of union leaders from around the region this morning to highlight a report that calls for Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island to “double down” on offshore wind investment. And lawmakers last week shipped a climate bill that includes long-awaited permitting reform to Healey’s desk. Meanwhile, a group of conservative-leaning New England think tanks is
touting their own report today that argues that clean energy sources like wind and solar won’t be able to support the region’s demand, warning that “residents and businesses can expect electricity rates to double, along with rolling blackouts.” GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. While it awaits Healey’s signature,
WBUR has a guide to what made it into the compromise energy bill. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey speaks at the AFL-CIO's offshore wind event at 11 a.m. in Taunton, visits Saint Anne’s Hospital at 3:30 p.m. in Taunton and hosts a virtual call with supporters reflecting on the election at 6 p.m. Lt. Gov.
Kim Driscoll chairs a virtual meeting of the Special Commission on Emergency Housing Assistance Programs at 2 p.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announces a $100 million appropriation to create the city’s Housing Accelerator Fund at 11 a.m. in Charlestown. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL | |
— “Advocates implore Healey to veto shield for Roxbury nonprofit accused of predatory lending,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News:
“Advocates who accused the Roxbury-based community development financing company BlueHub Capital of predatory lending are calling on Gov. Maura Healey to veto a piece of the recently passed $4 billion economic development bill that would make the company’s unusual lending practices explicitly legal.” —
“FBI searched Lawrence doughnut shop tied to Democratic state lawmaker,” by Matt Stout and Samantha J. Gross, The Boston Globe:
“Federal authorities last week searched a Lawrence property owned by a Democratic state lawmaker, according to officials and people with knowledge of the probe, though it was not immediately clear what they were investigating. On Thursday, the FBI searched an Essex Street building owned by state Representative Francisco Paulino, a first-term Democrat from nearby Methuen. Kristen Setera, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Boston office, confirmed authorities were ‘conducting court-authorized activity’ at that address, but she declined further comment.”
— “State to pay off another $38M in college loan debt,” by Christian M. Wade, The Newburyport News:
“More relief from college debt is coming for the state’s health care workers from a taxpayer-funded loan repayment program aimed at easing chronic workforce shortages. The MA Repay program, which got underway in 2022, pays off up to $300,000 in college loans for eligible health care professionals, including medical, dental, mental health and substance abuse. The state Executive Office of Health and Human Services, which oversees the program, is planning another round of disbursements totaling $38 million targeting behavioral health workers. The agency began accepting applications last week ahead of a Dec. 12 deadline to request repayment.”
— “Critics urge Healey to veto union-friendly deals,” by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News:
“Lawmakers on Thursday approved a sweeping economic development bill that included hundreds of millions of dollars worth of investments in the high-tech sector to help boost the state’s competitiveness and business climate. But the massive bill, which is awaiting [Gov. Maura] Healey’s review, also includes dozens of policy changes, including one that would require a so-called project labor agreement for any public works or building project if the state or local government decides that the move is in the ‘best interest’ of the community.”
— “At DCF, a staff exodus costs children, parents, and foster families services and stability,” by Jason Laughlin and Scooty Nickerson, The Boston Globe.
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| FROM THE HUB
| | — “Boston is spending millions on bike lanes amid a budget crunch. Some wonder if the investment is worth it,”
by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “The Wu administration has spent millions installing bike lanes throughout Boston since the mayor took office, and is planning to spend millions more in future years, but some argue the hefty investment has led to more headaches than benefits. An analysis of the city’s $4.7 billion capital plan for fiscal year 2025-29 reveals a series of projects ranging from expanding the bike share network, and implementing new bike corridors to provide cycling connections, to performing major street redesigns that involve installing new bike lanes in various neighborhoods.”
| | | | The lame duck session could reshape major policies before year's end. Get
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| PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | | |
— “MBTA workers are taking home hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime pay,” by Shannon Larson, The Boston Globe:
“More than 6,000 of the nearly 8,400 employees at the T have claimed overtime this year as of Nov. 2, according to the latest payroll data, which includes active, inactive, and former employees. The top earner, Transit Police Lieutenant Manes Cadet, took home $236,472 in overtime, bringing his total earnings to $392,207 — nearly as much as the president of the United States, who earns $400,000.” —
“One hundred entities sign letters of support for Northern Tier Rail,” by Chris Larabee, Greenfield Recorder:
“With a fist raised in the air, state Sen. Jo Comerford and dozens of advocates and business leaders, as well as state and local officials, rallied in support of the Northern Tier Passenger Rail Monday morning at the John W. Olver Transit Center. In an effort to urge state leaders in Boston to advance the Northern Tier Passenger Rail project, which would connect North Adams to Boston with a stop in Greenfield, advocates and legislators gathered to make their voices heard.”
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FROM THE DELEGATION | | —
“Katherine Clark’s daughter, Riley Dowell, arrested at chaotic anti-abortion Boston march,” by Chris Van Buskirk and Rick Sobey, Boston Herald:
“U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark’s daughter, Riley Dowell, was arrested Saturday in connection to an anti-abortion march in Boston that drew a confrontation with counter-protesters, according to police records. Dowell, 24, was previously arrested in January 2023 and pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and vandalizing a historic monument. Dowell was arraigned Monday on charges of disorderly conduct and interfering with lawful assembly.” —
“Rep. Richard Neal: ‘We have to get the budget done’,” by Jim Kinney, The Springfield Republican:
“U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal returned to Washington on Monday to begin more than three weeks of unfinished business, securing tax credits for redeveloping historic properties, and investing in distressed communities and the child tax credit. … Congress has until Dec. 20 to fund the government. Republican allies of President-elect Donald Trump are making noise about passing only a stopgap bill, pushing any real decisions until after the inauguration.”
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| TRUMPACHUSETTS | |
— “Would Mass. law enforcement help with Trump deportations? It depends who you ask,” by Deborah Becker, WBUR:
“Massachusetts politicians and criminal justice officials say they expect the incoming Trump administration will make good on its promises to pursue mass deportations — but exactly how remains unclear. As state, county and city law enforcement leaders evaluate their legal options to refuse assistance — or offer it — to federal agents, competing tactics could emerge. And immigration advocates warn different policies among government agencies will breed confusion.” —
“Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux 'not interested' in holding Trump immigration detainees,” by Frank Mulligan, The Herald News:
“Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux unveiled the repurposed former ICE Detention Center building at a press conference Monday that will house a training academy, as well as K-9 and Special Response Team units. But the building won't hold federal immigration detainees as it had under his predecessor, Thomas Hodgson. The Bristol County Sheriff's Office lost the contract in 2021 following a riot in the building a year earlier.” —
“UMass students, personnel abroad advised to return before Trump takes office,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “In preparation for a change in presidential administrations at the federal level, international students, faculty and staff on University of Massachusetts immigration sponsorships, who may be traveling abroad during winter break, are being encouraged to return to the United States before Jan. 20.”
— “Mass. Rep. Stephen Lynch had his ‘faith shaken’ by Trump’s Election Day win,” by John L. Micek, MassLive:
“U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch told a gathering of business leaders in Boston on Monday that his formerly ‘abiding faith in the judgment; of the voters was shaken by President-elect Donald Trump’s decisive win on Election Day.”
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| FROM THE 413 | | |
— “ICE action in Northampton prompts city, Amherst to reaffirm sanctuary commitments,” by Scott Merzbach Daily Hampshire Gazette:
“A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement action in the city last Thursday, which led to the arrest of a Brazilian man in Framingham who is also facing two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, is prompting both Northampton and Amherst officials to reaffirm their commitments to being sanctuary communities.”
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THE LOCAL ANGLE | | —
“WPI agrees to pay Worcester for lost revenue after buying hotels,” by Adam Bass, MassLive:
“In September, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) purchased two hotels to be converted into student housing — a move that angered city and business leaders due to concerns over a loss in revenues from property and hotel occupancy taxes. Now, the city of Worcester and the university have come to an agreement where WPI will move forward with its conversion plans while making payments to the city to account for the potential loss in tax revenue, according to a letter sent last week to the WPI community shared with MassLive.” —
“New Bedford calls on suburbs to pitch in on affordable housing,” by Grace Ferguson, The New Bedford Light:
“In April, dozens of leaders from New Bedford and its suburbs gathered at the Whaling Museum for a summit on the region’s worsening housing crisis. … But seven months later, the task force has still not been formed. That means there’s no region-wide housing strategy. Instead, there is a patchwork of plans and ideas that vary widely in scope and scale from town to town.”
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HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | TRANSITIONS — Inspector General
Jeffrey Shapiro was elected to the board of directors of the Association of Inspectors General. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to WaPo’s Matt Viser, Sean Rourke, Evan Falchuk and Matt Barron.
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